The Next Best Book Clubdiscussion

This is where you can post the Opening Paragragh of the book your reading.

Harvesting the Heart ~ Jodi Picoult

Nicholas won't let me into my own house, but I have been watching my family from a distance. So even though I have been camping out in the front lawn, I know exactly when Nicholas takes Max into the nursery to change his diaper. The light switches on-it's a little dinosaur lamp that has a shade printed with prehistoric bones-and I see the silhouette of my husband's hands stripping away the Pampers.

A Christmas CarolbyCharles Dickens


Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it: and Scrooge’s name was good upon ’Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.

Wife of GR author:Michael J. Sullivan|The Crown Conspiracy(10/08) |Avempartha(04/09)

Love this idea, Fiona! The first paragraph of this book is what prompted me to get it. Sorry for the length, though.

The Alienist by Caleb Carr

Theodore is in the ground. The words as I write them make as little sense as did the sight of his coffin descending into a patch of sandy soil near Sagamore Hill, the place he loved more than any other on earth. As I stood there this afternoon, in the cold January wind that blew off Long Island Sound, I thought to myself: Of course it’s a joke. Of course he’ll burst the lid open, blind us all with that ridiculous grin and split our ears with a high-pitched bark of laughter. Then he’ll exclaim that there’s work to do – “action to get!” – and we’ll all be martialed to the task of protecting some obscure species of newt from the raves of a predatory industrial giant bent on planting a fetid factory on the little reptile’s breeding ground. I was not alone in such fantasies; everyone at the funeral expected something of the kind, it was plain on their faces. All reports indicate that most of the country and much of the world feel the same way. The notion of Theodore Roosevelt being gone is that – unacceptable.

Robin, I know we all know its A Christmas Carol. But can u edit to post the title and author pleaseeeeeeeeee?

Thanks xxxx

luv n hugs

I agree. Great idea!

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fireby J.K. Rowling

The villagers of Little Hangleton still called it "the Riddle House," even though it had been many years since the Riddle family had lived there. It stood on a hill overlooking the village, some of its windows boarded, tiles missing from its roof, and ivy spreading unchecked over its face. Once a fine-looking manor, and easily the largest and grandest building for miles around, the Riddle House was now damp, derelict, and unoccupied.

Fantastic topic! I love this one Titch.

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

When they write my obituary. Tomorrow. Or the next day. It will say, LEO GURSKY IS SURVIVED BY AN APARTMENT FULL OF SHIT. I'm surprised I haven't been buried alive. The place isn't big. I have to struggle to keep a path clear between bed and toilet, toilet and kitchen table, kitchen table and front door. If I want to get from the toilet to the front door, impossible, I have to go by way of the kitchen table. I like to imagine the bed as home plate, the toilet as first, the kitchen table as second, the front door as third: should the doorbell ring while I am lying in bed, I have to round the toilet and the kitchen table in order to arrive at the door. If it happens to be Bruno, I let him in without a word and then jog back to bed, the roar of the invisible crowd ringing in my ears.

Wow. This is a really great idea!!

Thanks Lori xx

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote:

I am always drawn back to the places where I have lived, the houses and their neighborhoods. For instance, there is a brownstone in the East Seventies where, during the early years of the war, I had my first New York apartment. It was one room crowded with attic furniture, a sofa and fat chairs upholstered in that itchy, particular red velvet that one associates with hot days on a train. The walls were stucco and a color rather like tobacco spit. Everywhere, in the bathroom too, there were prints of Roman ruins freckled with brown age. The single window looked out on a fire escape. Even so, my spirits heightened whenever I felt in my pocket the key to this apartment; with all its gloom; it was still a place of my own, the first, and my books were there, and jars of pencils to sharpen, everything I needed, so I felt, to become the writer I wanted to be.

Thats ok Heather.

Totally. This is a TBR grower, for sure. Great idea Titch!!

:-)

Mistborn: The Final EmpirebyBrandon Sanderson

Ash fell from the sky.

Vin watched the downy flakes drift through the air. Leisurely. Careless. Free. The puffs of soot fell like black snowflakes, descending upon the dark city of Luthadel. They drifted in corners, blowing in the breeze and curling in tiny whirlwinds over the cobblestones. They seemed so uncaring. What would that be like?

Wife of GR author:Michael J. Sullivan|The Crown Conspiracy(10/08) |Avempartha(04/09)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie SocietybyShaffer/Barrows

Dear Sidney,
Susan Scott is a wonder. We sold over forty copies of the book, which was very pleasant, but much more thrilling from my standpoint was the food. Susan managed to procure ration coupons for icing sugar and real eggs for the meringue. If all her literary luncheons are going to achieve these heights, I won't mind touring about the country. Do you suppose that a lavish bonus could spur her on to butter? Let's try it—you may deduct the money from my royalties.

Wife of GR author:Michael J. Sullivan|The Crown Conspiracy(10/08) |Avempartha(04/09)

And with Guernsey - you ain't seen nothin yet. I had to read about 20 pp., and once I got that far I was hooked. GREAT read.

Flight: A NovelbySherman Alexie

Call me Zits.

Everybody calls me Zits.

That's not my real name, of course. My real name isn't important.

Wife of GR author:Michael J. Sullivan|The Crown Conspiracy(10/08) |Avempartha(04/09)

Robin, are these books your readin?

StardustbyNeil Gaiman
There was once a man who wished to gain his heart's desire.

And while that is,as beginings go, not entirely novel (for every tale about every tale about every young man there ever was or will be could start in a similar manner) there was much about this young man and what happened to him that was unusual, although even though he never knew the whole of it.

-- Wife of GR AuthorMichael J. Sullivan|The Crown Conspiracy|Avempartha

I wanna read B'fast at Tiffanys now!

Robin, you are reading 4 books right now?

"Christmas crept into Pine Grove like a creeping Christmas thing: dragging garland, ribbon, and sleigh bells, oozing eggnogg, reeking of pine, and threatening festive doom like a cold sore under the mistletoe."

THE STUPIDEST ANGEL by Christopher Moore.
You gotta love that Christopher Moore...lol

I could add all the 1s I have on the go lol.

Lost Souls ~ Neil White

The old man turned away and closed his eyes, clamped his hands over his ears, but the images were still there, searing, seickening. He tried to shut them out, screwed up his eyes and started to pace. It was no good. He ended up where he staretd each tie, next to her.

Hollywood Wives ~ Jackie Collins

He stood in the living room of the small house in Philadelphia. He stood and stared at the three of them. Three pigs. Three laughing faces. Teeth and eyes and hair. Three pigs

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close ~ Jonathan Safran Foer

What about a teakettle? What if the spout opened and closed when the steam came out, so it would become a mouth, and it could whistle pretty melodies, or do Shakespeare, or just crack up with me? I could invent a teakettle that reads in Dad's voice, so I could fall asleep, or maybe a set of kettles that sings the chorus of "Yellow Submarine," which is a song by the Beatles, who I love, because entomology is one of my raisons d'etre, which is a French expression that I know. Another good thing is that I could train my anus to talk when I farted. If I wanted to be extremely hilarious, I'd train it to say, "Wasn't me!" every time I made an incredibly bad fart. And if I ever made an incredibly bad fart in the Hall of Mirrors, which is in Versailles, which is outside of Paris, which is in France, obviously, my anus would say, "Ce n'etais pas moi!"

Dissolution ~ C.J. Sansom

I was down in Surrey, on business for Lord Cromwell's office, when the summons came. The lands of a dissolved monastery had been awarded to a Member of Parliament whose support was needed, and the title deeds to some woodlands had disappeared. Tracing them had not proved difficult and afterwards I had accepted the MP's invitation to stay a few days with his family. I had been enjoying the brief rest, watching the last of the leaves fall, before returning to London and my practice. Sir Stephen had a fine new brick house of pleasing proportions and I had offered to draw it for him; but I had only made a couple of preliminary sketches when the rider arrived.

Fiona, how can you possibly be reading all of those all at the same time?????? I wouldnt be able to function.

I have 4 on the go that I need to finish for the Winter Challenge now. Other 1 I can't carry on readin as I need to read the 1st in the series lol.

You know when ur in between books, to get a light read or u buy a book and read on a bus or something. Then get home and carry on readin the book u had at home. Well thats me.

I am with Lori one at a time!!! I would be so confused:)

The Challenge books are:
EL&IC is my library book (started a few pages)
Dissolution (started a page or 2)
Harvesting the Heart (readin now)
Hollywood Wives is my still to finish book(read a 100 pages)

The sea is high again today, with a thrilling flush of wind. In the midst of winter you can feel the inventions of spring. A sky of hot nude pearl until midday, crickets in sheltered places, and now the wind, unpacking the great planes, ransacking the great planes...

Lawrence Durrell,Justine

I was leaning against the bar in a speakeasy on Fifty-second Street, waiting for Nora to finish her Christmas shopping, when a girl got up from the table where she had been sitting with three other people and came over to me. She was small and blonde, and whether you looked at her face or at her body in powder-blue sports clothes, the result was satisfactory. "Aren't you Nick Charles?" she asked.

The Thin ManbyDashiell Hammett

Only By Your Touch

In the three weeks since Chloe Evans had moved to the mountain community of Jack Pine, Oregon, she'd lost count of the times she'd driven by the feed store to let her son, Jeremy, watch the animated scarecrow pitch hay and the old farmer milk his cow. Like all the buildings in the business district, the barn like structure was quaint and charming. Flanked by towering Ponderosa pines, the store had weathered cedar siding complemented by forest-green trim.

Had to do this a little different....I love this idea!!

Intro: "One November morning in 2004, Theo van Gogh got up to go to work at his film production company in Amsterdam. He took out his old black bicycle and headed down a main road. Waiting in a doorway was a Moroccan man with a handgun and two butcher knives."

Chapter 1: "Who are you?
I am Ayaan, the daughter of Hirsi, the son of Magan.
I am sitting with my grandmother on a grass mat under the talal tree. Behind us is our house, and the branches of the talal tree are all that shields us from the sun blazing down on the white sand. Go on, my grandmother says, glaring at me. "

Infidel... Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Cool Idea....This is the first paragaph of the book I'm currently reading...The Crown Conspiracy.

Archibald Ballentyne held the world in his hands, conveniently contained within fi fteen stolen letters. Each parchment was penned with meticulous care in a fine, elegant script. He could tell the writer believed that the words were profound and that their meaning conveyed a beautiful truth. Archibald felt the writing was drivel, yet he agreed with the author that they held a value beyond
measure. He took a sip of brandy, closed his eyes, and smiled.

Kind of an interesting begining since the character we are first introduced to -- as far as I can tell - really doesn't come up again. (At least I don't think he will) - the real main characters aren't even in the first chapter - lol. It is the guys who steals the letters he has.

Jane.

Dorie: The Alienist sounds interesting
Laura: History of Love also sounds good
Robin: Mistborn is a good book

Jane, The Alienist has been a really good read so far. I just wish I had more time to devote to it. I've been too busy with other things lately.

Kat, ur book sounds great. Will keep an eye out for that hun xx

Thanks everyone so far for ur opening paragraphs. I look forward to readin some of them in 2009.

Morning all...I had to laugh - no I'm not reading 4 books at once I'm reading 6!!! - I know its weird but hear me out.

Christmas Carol and Stardust I'm reading for this group.

Flight and Gursney I'm reading for face2 face groups.

Mistborn - is my "pleasure read" - just one taken off my TBR list. -- i.e. not assigned by any reading groups etc so far I'm enjoying it as well Jane.

The last one I didn't post because I didn't want to shamelessly self promote. But the final draft of my husband's second book came back from the editor and I'm reading through it one final time before it goes to the proof readers.

But it looks like I'm not hte only one reading multiples - wave Fiona.

I also agree with Jane and Dorie that the Alienist looks good and it will probaly go on my growing TBR pile -- Shakes her fist at TNBBC!!!

And Jane...I recognized that paragraph immediately!! I can recite the opening sentence by rote now - lol.

Wife of GR author:Michael J. Sullivan|The Crown Conspiracy(10/08) |Avempartha(04/09)

Afternoon here Robin (but MORNING! to u and waves back).

I have always had other books on the go too. I am so looking forward to being friends with ya all in 2009 xxx

Good way of seeing if you are interested in a book - I like the sound of Breakfast at Tiffany's and the History of Love. The first paragraph of the book I am currently reading is very easy to post:

A Thousand Splendid Suns: Khaled Hosseini

'Mariam was five years old the first time she heard the word harami.'

So -- not the most riviting first paragaph - but I LOVED 1000 splended suns.

Robin.

Great idea!
There are so many books I want to add to my TBR now!!

Fiona, thank you for this thread. You are such an interesting member of Goodreads; I always look forward to your postings. I hope you don't mind that I am posting an opening paragraph in a book that I've already read. I was looking through it yesterday and wanted to share this. I will post the paragraph from the book I'm currently reading later. (I may end up re-reading The Girls, though.)

The Girls by Lori Lansens

"I have never looked into my sister's eyes. I have never bathed alone. I have never stood in the grass at night and raised my arms to a beguiling moon. I've never used an airplane bathroom. Or worn a hat. Or been kissed like that. I've never driven a car. Or slept through the night. Never a private talk. Or solo walk. I've never climbed a tree. Or faded into a crowd. So many things I've never done, but oh, how I've been loved. And, if such things were to be, I'd live a thousand lives as me, to be loved so exponentially."

If anyone else has read this wonderful book, please let me know. It's one of my favorites, and I haven't seen anything else mentioned about it.

Hi Fiona,

Great thread. In fact I opened a similar one in the group “Young Adult Fiction for Adults” with not much success. I think the problem is I named it “Once Upon A Time”, not a good title I guess. Which come to prove the importance of the first impression.

I posted there some of my favorites opening lines in Young Adult fiction.

Here I am posting the opening paragraph in Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. It works for me.

“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again. It seemed to me I stood by the iron gate leading to the drive, and for a while I could not enter, for the way was barred to me. There was a padlock and a chain upon the gate. I called in my dream to the lodge keeper, and had no answer, and peering closer through the rusted spokes of the gate I saw that the lodge was uninhabited.”

Thanks everyone for adding your books.

Carmen, I will take a look at ur thread later and see what I can add.

Kathy, I have a copy of The Girls on my TBR pile lol. So lookin forward to readin it when I get time lol xx

Kathy, I've read The Girls... I wouldn't say it was one of my favourites. It was ok, but I found it dragged towards the end.